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Lafayette-based Regional Makers is all about green initiatives -- and the owners will even deliver their products locally via their tandem bike.

Company president Peter Fargo and his wife Anna moved to Colorado from Washington, D.C., in 2011. They launched their business in January out of their home in Superior, before relocating to Lafayette in July.

Regional Makers produces gift boxes with specialty foods made in Colorado and the Fargos package the boxes in their home off South Public Road.

Peter said the tandem bike is a symbol near and dear to his heart and serves not only as a business mascot and logo but, most importantly, represents Regional Makers' values -- trust and partnership.

?Peter and Ann Fargo launched Regional Makers, a business that sells gift boxes of specialty foods made in Colorado. Ten percent of their profits will go to Colorado conservation initiatives.
(David Helmuth, Courtesy photo)

"Anna and I had a tandem bike in Washington, D.C. It was an old Schwinn with a steel frame and weighed about a 100 pounds," he said.

It took them some time to master riding in tandem, though. Peter said he quickly learned to duck the low-hanging tree branches while riding the bike, but that meant Anna took a few branches to the face.

"I'm just lucky she didn't take off in the other direction," he said. "There were a couple branch incidents before I learned to communicate effectively."

The couple has an environmental background -- they met while working at the Environmental Protection Agency in D.C. -- and Regional Makers is two-fold: it's a for-profit business but also a conservation movement, they say.

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"We are bringing the local and green movements to the gift market," said Anna, sustainability director for Regional Makers. "Our products are made by local Colorado companies, and we have set a goal to give 10 percent of our profits back to Colorado conservation initiatives."

Regional Makers produces a gluten-free "Little Colorado Box," for $25 that includes a bag of organic dried apples and peaches from Ela Family Farms on the Western Slope; a bar of "backpacker's" gourmet dark chocolate made in Breckenridge and hand-dipped in wax to keep it from melting; and a bag of organic granola made by Boulder Granola.

"We wouldn't be complete without something from the hippies of Boulder," Peter said.

The "Big Colorado Box," for $39 includes all that plus a jar of Colorado Green Chili from Colorado Springs and natural crispbread.

The big box also comes with a hand carved pinecone tile created from reclaimed pine from Colorado trees killed by beetles. Superior artist Tracy Lytle carves the tiles for the gift boxes.

The items in the little and big boxes are wrapped in a burlap cloth and include a Colorado postcard. Customers can choose from six designs and write a personal message on the card during the online checkout process.

Each box also comes with a booklet about the Colorado products that make up the gift boxes.

"We want to tell the stories and connect the people with where the products are from," Peter said.

The cardboard boxes are made from recyclable and biodegradable materials from Longmont-based EcoEnclose.

The Fargos plan to launch a "premium" box with even more more local products for about $100.

They are working with Kevin Kisich of Lafayette's Stone and Cottonwood in designing a wooden box meant to be reused or put on display. Kisich repurposes wood from trees that have been cut down in Boulder County.

Earlier this year, the Fargos partnered with the University of Colorado-Boulder's communications department and brought on three interns, via CASE -- a department program called the Communication Project for Civic and Social Engagement, created by professor emeritus Brian Daniell.

Jeff Ruhle, a master of business administration student from CU's Leeds School of Business also came on as an intern and now serves as Regional Makers' marketing director.

The rest of the team includes Louisville resident and graphic designer/photographer David Helmuth -- who produces the images featured on the postcards -- I.T. director Alex Borshch and creative director David Stark.

Peter will conduct interviews next week with students from Monarch High School's DECA program for two or three new intern positions this winter. He plans to bring on a new round of high school interns in the spring.

Peter and Ann are looking to expand the Colorado suppliers they work with and hope to create a build-your-own-box concept for 2013.

They're also gearing up for a busy holiday season.

"The company is prepared for as many orders as we receive. We're setting a goal to sell at least 1,000 boxes over the holidays," Peter said.

For more information about Regional Makers or to place an order, call 720-378-8903 or visit RegionalMakers.com.

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